Host–microbiome interactions: the aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a critical node in tryptophan metabolites to brain signaling

ABSTRACT

Tryptophan (Trp) is not only a nutrient enhancer but also has systemic effects. Trp metabolites signaling through the well-known aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) constitute the interface of microbiome-gut-brain axis. However, the pathway through which Trp metabolites affect central nervous system (CNS) function have not been fully elucidated. AhR participates in a broad variety of physiological and pathological processes that also highly relevant to intestinal homeostasis and CNS diseases. Via the AhR-dependent mechanism, Trp metabolites connect bidirectional signaling between the gut microbiome and the brain, mediated via immune, metabolic, and neural (vagal) signaling mechanisms, with downstream effects on behavior and CNS function. These findings shed light on the complex Trp regulation of microbiome-gut-brain axis and add another facet to our understanding that dietary Trp is expected to be a promising noninvasive approach for alleviating systemic diseases.     

Hepatic gene downregulation following acute and subchronic exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Chronic exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been shown to lead to the development of hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity in the liver of female rats. In this study, we investigated hepatic gene downregulation in response to acute and subchronic TCDD exposure. We identified 61 probes which exhibited a downregulation of twofold or greater following subchronic (13 weeks) exposure to TCDD. Comparative analysis of the hepatic expression of these 61 probes was conducted with rats subchronically exposed to PeCDF, PCB126, PCB153, and a mixture of PCB126 and PCB153. PCB153 produced little or no alteration in these probes, while the binary mixture mimicked most closely the downregulation observed with TCDD. To discern if the repression of genes within this probe set occur as a primary response to TCDD exposure, we analyzed the early responsiveness of 11 genes at 6, 24, and 72 h following a single exposure to TCDD. We observed early repression of the 11 genes within this early time course, indicating that the repression of this subset of genes occurs as a primary response to TCDD exposure and not as a secondary response to 13 weeks of subchronic treatment. In addition, the gender, species, and AhR dependence of these responses were also investigated. Gender- and species-dependent repression was observed within this subset of genes. Furthermore, utilizing AhR knockout mice, we were able to determine the AhR-dependent downregulation of seven of 11 genes. Together these results assist efforts to understand the multitude of effects imposed by TCDD and AhR ligands on gene expression.     

AhR基因缺陷与野生型小鼠下丘脑室旁核催产素能神经元的不同形态特征

目的　阐明下丘脑室旁核催产素能神经元与免疫功能之间的联系 .方法　用免疫组织化学方法 ,对具有免疫功能缺陷的芳香烃受体 (Ah R)基因缺陷小鼠下丘脑室旁核催产素能神经元的形态特征进行观察 .结果　 Ah R基因缺陷小鼠与野生型小鼠相比 ,催产素能神经元突起增多、增粗 ,许多粗大的纤维穿行至第三脑室室管膜下 .基因缺陷小鼠的下丘脑垂体束与野生型小鼠相比更加密集 ,纤维增粗 .结论　 Ah R基因缺陷小鼠下丘脑催产素能神经元发生了塑性变化 ,提示催产素能神经元在神经免疫调节中可能具有重要作用     

AhR及CYP1A1基因多态性与焦炉工外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤的关系

[目的]研究多环芳烃受体(AhR)G1661A和细胞色素P4501A1(CYP1A1)Msp1位点多态性与焦炉工外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤的关系。[方法]选取220名焦炉工和65名无职业性多环芳烃(PAHs)暴露的工人为研究对象,应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)及等位基因特异性扩增(ASA)方法分别检测CYP1A1及AhR基因型,使用碱性单细胞凝胶电泳技术评价淋巴细胞DNA损伤,使用调查表收集研究对象的年龄、性别、吸烟和饮酒、职业暴露史等信息。[结果] 经过广义线性模型对外暴露等级和工龄进行校正后,焦炉工中AhR基因1661位点A/A G/A基因型者经自然对数转换的Olive尾矩(1．36±1．04)高于G/G基因型者(1．03土1．16),差异有显著性(P<0．05),未发现CYP1A1 Msp1位点多态性与Olive尾矩有关。[结论]焦炉工AhRG1661A位点多态性与其外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤有关。     

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin Induced Cell-Specific Drug Transporters With Acquired Cisplatin Resistance in Cisplatin Sensitive Cancer Cells

2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) can induce drug transporter genes such as the ATP-binding cassette G member 2 (ABCG2), which contributes to multidrug resistance. We investigated the effect of TCDD pretreatment on drug transporters induction from cancer cells of various origins. Cell viabilities after treatment of cisplatin were measured to evaluate acquiring cisplatin resistance by TCDD. Acquring cisplatin resistance was found only in cisplatin senstivie cancer cells including gastric SNU601, colon LS180, brain CRT-MG and lymphoma Jurkat cells which showed a significant increase in cell viability after combined treatment with TCDD and cisplatin. High increase of ABCG2 gene expression was found in SNU601 and LS180 cells with a mild increase in the expression of the ABCC3, ABCC5,and SLC29A2 genes in SNU601 cells, and of major vault protein (MVP) in LS180 cells. The AhR inhibitor kaempferol suppressed the upregulation of ABCG2 expression and reversed the TCDD-induced increase in cell viability in LS180 cells. However, in CRT-MG cells, other transporter genes including ABCC1, ABCC5, ABCA3, ABCA2, ABCB4, ABCG1, and SLC29A1 were up-regulated. These findings suggested the acquiring cisplatin resistance by TCDD associated with cancer cell-type-specific induction of drug transporters.

Graphical Abstract

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Cryptorchidism and endocrine disrupting chemicals

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